At least four new applications to open free schools, part of a generation of "independent state schools" led by demand from parents and teachers, will be given initial approval by the education secretary, Michael Gove, tomorrow.

Free schools, which are able to set their own curriculum and control their own admissions, are a key plank of the coalition's education policy. Gove believes they will drive up standards, but the numbers so far have been small.

The announcement on free schools comes alongside plans to speed up the expansion of academies, which have similar freedoms, as a means of tackling England's most under-performing schools.

In a speech today, Gove warned that the government would intervene to transfer a failing school out of local authority control if a council sought to block it becoming an academy.

"If we are to raise attainment for all children, turn round under-performing schools where students have been poorly served for years, close the gap between rich and poor and make opportunity more equal we need to work at every level to accelerate the pace of change," Gove said.

The education secretary praised the role of local authorities in ensuring fair admissions, and providing support to children with special needs. Some local authorities could provide school improvement services beyond their geographical boundaries, he suggested.

Gove also called for an expansion of academies among primary schools and said he wanted to encourage the growth of clusters of academies, in a speech to the national conference of directors of children's and adult services.

In a speech to the same conference, the shadow education secretary, Andy Burnham, attacked the free schools policy, arguing there was a "real risk of bringing division and segregation" to the comprehensive system.

Burnham also accused Gove of failing to value less traditional subjects in favour of a classical curriculum. "He has a 1950s sepia-tinted view of childhood, where Dryden, Pope and 'our island story' inspire the dreams of every child," Burnham said.

The latest free school applications to win approval from the government include All Saints school in Reading; Cuckoo Hall school in Enfield, north London; Sandbach school in Cheshire; and the Bradford free school group.

Sandbach is a boys' school that used to be private. It is officially listed as an independent school, but is now comprehensive and publicly funded. The school was turned down for an academy conversion this year because of its independent status and applied to be a free school instead.

The Reading proposal, for a junior school, was prompted by parental concern over a local shortage of school places, which is expected to get worse because of demographic pressures. It will operate in partnership with the private educational consultancy CfBT, an academy sponsor. The aim is to open next September.

Neil McIntosh, chief executive of CfBT, said: "I am delighted that our application to proceed with a free school in Reading has been successful.

"We are particularly pleased to have forged a partnership with an enthusiastic parents group, the Friends of All Saints, to promote an exciting solution to the very real problem of limited school places for children in west Reading.

"CfBT is committed to developing a family of free schools and it is splendid that the first such venture to gain approval is in our home town of Reading."

The Bradford proposal, which will be called Rainbow school, is backed by Asian Trade Link, a group that provides careers, training and business start-up advice.

Just 16 schools were among the first wave to be granted initial approval in September. They include the West London free school, which has the journalist and author Toby Young on its steering committee. The school, which advertised for a headteacher this week with "a salary to attract the best", will have compulsory Latin for pupils aged 11 to 14, and a choice of either Latin or classical civilisation at GCSE. Seven of the first 16 have faith affiliations.